Exercise grows a better brain‼️
Movement is necessary for kids to improve motor skills AND cognition
Exercise not only shapes the muscles, heart, lungs & bones, it also strengthens the basal ganglia, cerebellum & corpus callosum in the brain— important for movement & learning
Exercise not only increases flow of oxygen into the brain, but it also feeds the brain neurotrophins. Neurotrophins are nutrient-filled chemicals that enable the brain to increase the number of connections between neurons (Jensen, 2005).
This is especially important for kids because exercise can increase the baseline of new neuron growth (neurogenesis). This neurogenesis is what leads to increased cognition, improved memory & learning, and lessens the likelihood of depression (Kempermann, 2002).
These benefits of exercise for the brain can all be transferred to athletics. Sports contain components of cognition, emotions, and the learning of motor skills to play the game. Kids will obviously be exercising while playing, but schools need to be aware of this concept as well
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